Breadcrumb

The Plan

Map a territory for study and practice that goes beyond the bounds of a traditional major.

When you ask Bennington students what they study you might hear things like nostalgia, the human form, medical anthropology, women’s studies, space architecture, objecthood, or literature, but you rarely hear the same thing. At Bennington your course of study is as individual as you are, and as diverse as your interests. Every class you take, every work experience you seek out, you do because you want and need it to develop essential capacities related to your goals.

Through one-on-one academic planning and graduate-style advising, Bennington students map a territory for study and practice that goes beyond the bounds of a traditional major. This is your Plan. By building, articulating, and advocating for the substance of your education, you hone your ability to thrive in a world without givens, to tolerate ambiguity, and to steer your work in compelling directions even when a path is not laid out for you.

Models & Mentors

You develop your Plan in close collaboration with your faculty advisor and with feedback from your Plan committee, who guide your progress to ensure that your Plan is challenging, academically sound, and significant.

Theory Meets Practice

Every Bennington student, every winter spends seven weeks at work in the world pursuing jobs, internships, and entrepreneurial endeavors related to their studies, their professional ambitions, and their own curiosities.

YOUR LIFE'S WORK

Your Plan maps how you will develop the capacities to achieve your intellectual, personal, and professional goals whatever your fields of interest—and the confidence to thrive in a world without givens.